Students should be grateful for what the College has to offer

With Thanksgiving around the corner, we all tend to think about what we appreciate most. However, with school work and stress piling up, it can be hard to be thankful for what the College has to offer. The workloads are intense, the competition is high and the pressure to succeed is a constant weight on already burdened college students’ shoulders.

According to the 2015 National College Health Assessment, more than 85 percent of college students felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do at some point within the past year. Feeling overwhelmed is definitely a familiar emotion for students at the College, but you should never let it get the best of you.

It is important to value everything the College has to offer, whether it is athletics, student government, Greek Life or clubs. You have the ability to fully shape your college experience.

Remember, you are lucky enough to simply study at a school as remarkable as the College. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with an opportunity to receive such a solid education, if at all.

The College has become a second home to many of us and has gifted us with relationships that will last a lifetime. I am the most thankful for the friends that this college has given me the opportunity to meet, connect with and grow with.

We all entered college ready to take on the next chapters of our lives. It was definitely exciting, but it was also just as frightening. We no longer had our family or hometown friends by our sides. Instead, we had to find a new support group out of a crowd of strangers. I can proudly say that I have found these lifelong friends that I searched for my freshman year, and I hope many of you can say the same.

While we might not agree with the changes to Homecoming, hate the never-ending construction on campus or curse the frequent struggles with Wi-Fi, it is imperative to look at the bigger picture. The College constantly offers each and every one of us so many amazing opportunities that will not only help us grow, but will push us to be the best version of ourselves.

So next time you’re drowning in work at the Library or just feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to think about what you’re thankful for at the College.